Pie making machine



Feb. 9, 1960 P. c. WELCH 2,924,184

PIE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I INVENTOR I IIl /f PARKER awt-Lch' Feb. 9, 1960 P. c. wELcH Y 2,924,184

PIE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR PARKER C. WELCH United States Patent @fige Pm MAKING MACHINEParker C. Welch, Louisville, Ky., assigner to Morton Packing Company,Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application June 6, 1955,Serial No. 513,286

6 Claims. (Cl. 107-12) This invention relates to pastry making machinesand more particularly to an improved dough sheeting device or mechanismfor use in pie-making machinery.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved doughsheeting mechanism that can be easily mounted for use in a pie-makingmachine and connected for timed operation therewith so as to deposit asheet of dough in proper position on the pie plates moving on themachine.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a doughsheeting mechanism ofthe type described which is timed to automaticallyoperate in conjunction with the movement of the pie plates through themachine so' as to ,permit optimum output of the machine with a minimumof manual labor.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a doughsheeting mechanism of the type described having improved meansincorporated therein for automatically stamping designs in the doughsheets, which designs will be properly positioned with respect to' thepie plates.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of adough sheeting mechanism having improved dough engaging surfacesoperable to substantially prevent sticking of the dough thereto duringthe sheeting operation thereby substantially eliminating lthe use offlour heretofore necessary for this purpose.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved dough sheeting roller having improved means thereon forpreventing the dough from sticking thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a doughsheeting roller of the type described having improved means for removingthe dough therefrom, such means including an antisticking surface forsupporting the dough as it is removed from the roller.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved dough sheeting mechanism which is simple in construction, easyto operate and clean and economical to manufacture and maintain.

These and other objects o'f the present invention will become moreapparent during the course of the following detailed description andappended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference` tol theaccompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a dough sheeting mechanismembodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich the dough blocks are fed in timed relation into the rollers;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the members partlybroken away;

2,924,184 Patented Feb. 9, 1960 the various pie' making steps arecarried out. One such machine is disclosed in Smith Patent No.2,673,019, wherein the pie plate supporting elements are arranged tosuppo'rt a cluster of the four pie plates with each cluste being spaceda substantial distance apart.

The invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection with thepie-making machine disclosed in my copending application-Serial No.508,155 filed May 13, 1955. This machine includes a main conveyor meanshaving a series of substantially dat pie plate holders such as are shownat 10-in Figure 2. The holders are arranged to support an endless seriesof equally spaced pie plates for movement along Vthe operative run ofthe main conveyor means.

Referring now more particularly to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, thedough sheeting mechanism of the present invention is adapted to bemounted on the pie-making machine above the `operative run thereof in aposition to deliver o'r deposit successive sheets of dough in proper4118, located therebelow. It will be understood that such dough blocksmay be formed of' a predetermined amount of dough by machinery notshown, which may roll the blocks in a direction transverse to the extentof the frame members 14. Furthermore, the dough blocks may be fed ontothe conveyor means 18 manually or by means of suitable machinery notshown.

The conveyor means 18 comprises an elongated plate 20 mounted betweenthe frame members in a slightly inclined position for verticaladjustment by any suitable means, such as pin and slot connections 22.The upper surface of plate 20 is preferably covered by a coating orsheet 24 of Teflon (polytetralluoroethylene), which serves to preventsticking vof the doughthereto as will be more fully explainedhereinafter. Mounted between the frame members 14 in surroundingrelation to the plate p 20, is an endless kconveyor includinghorizontally spaced shafts-26 suitably journaled in the frame members,as by journal plates 27, the rear pairof which is connected to the framemembers for substantial' horizontal adjustment by pin and slotconnections 28 or the like. Rigidly mounted on the respective ends ofthe shafts 26 are pairs of aligned sprocket wheels 29. -Chains 30 aretrained about each pair of aligned sprocket wheels 29 and a plurality ofwidely spaced transverse pusher bars A32. are rigidly connected betweenselected corresponding links of the chains. As shown in Figure 3, eachof these lpusher bars s preferably constructed of an angle beam, thevertical ilange of which is provided with ab plurality of horizontallyspaced notches or openings 34 .for a purpose to be hereinafter morefully described. As

The upper rear end' can be seen in Figurel l, the plate and endlessconveyor are positioned relative to each other so" that the pusher bedisposed iustvlabgvetlieplai@ ,2.9 so, as toengagtth successiveV doughbldcks fed thereon and t'o movefthe mounted between ther'frame members14 in a position i bars during their upper substantially straight runwill same toward the downwardlycu'rveglfo arden therel Of- AS ShawnFigure filie' @Quali blocks@ tively flat and substantially' in sheetfo'rm but h n iicient thickness so that the leading edge will tr el e`yond the curvedj forward endof the' plate asub al distance before thesamewwill appreciable amount. N j

Mounted between the frame members lft'for` substantial verticaladjustment, as by pinand `Vslot''imnection 36, is a dead plate38'disposed'ina sition to receive the leading edge ofthe dough blocleas;*1t is movedfrom the plate 2O-andato` support the `entire dough blockyas it moves from'the Y-forwardvczu'rkved endof the plate 20.

This dead plate, like the plate 2Q, is" preferably provided with f anupper `coating `or sheet 40. of 'lfe'flpn which engages thedough. i

A pair of cooperating-'rollers 42 are disposed atthe forward end ofthedead plate 3S andare .operable tov iirst expanded by heat and theninserted over thek'nurled surface of the pipe whereit `is allowed tocoolv so as to firmly secure the same thereto. A stub shaft-46having aconcentric disk 4Sirigidly secured to one end thereof is fixedly mountedin each end of thepipe, as'by welding theperiphery of the disks thereto.Thelow'er roller is journaled between the frame members 144 byianysuitable means, such as journal plates 50 detachably mounted onthe outersurfaces ofthe frame members. The upper roller is journaled bysimilarVjournal plates 5,2 which may be detachably connected to the framemembers for pivotal movement toward and away from the journal plates 50,as by pivot pin 54 and pin and Vslot connections 56. i

The'dough blocks are f edl from the dead` plate 38 between therollers byan` automatic feeding meanswhich will now be described. VIournaled`between'a pair of plates 58 detachably mounted on the outer surface ofthe frame members 14, is a shaft 60. A plurality of horizontally` spacedfingers ork rods 6'2Aextend radially Y outwardly from the shaft 60 andhave their inner ends i secured to the shaft byI any suitable means,such asbolts 64, and their outer ends attened as at 66. As shown inFigure 3, the flattened Vends 66 of the ngers are adapted to enterwithin the notches 34 during their rotation with shaft 60j so asV toengage the trailingiedge of the dough block .beingmoved onto thedeadplate 38 stub shaft 72 secured, thereto, as by welding or the like,`

the outer end offwhich is journaled in the adjacent frame member by anysuitable means, such as a separablejour;Y

nal and -slot connection 74. `Adjacent, each stub shaft 72. H the Side9i; thelist? 6.9, Oppositcfedge-'IQ iS ail lupstanding pin 7,6 arrangedtoireceiveone endiof a oo il Spring 7S the @liter siidfof Whihfbsarsagainst the laver. end 0f a. boli Sii-threaded. iii-.relisha-liislexindiiia iii:

.wardly from the adjacent-.frame member. Rreferably,

deiiect downwardly an' so as to cooperate 'with thelower roller 42 andto support the dough sheet as it issues from between the rollers.

i As best shown in Figure 4, the lower scraper member i comprisesaskeletonizedframe 88 having a transverse sharpened edge 90 at one `endthereof and a sheet 92` of Teflon mounted on `its-,upper,surface inabutting relation to the cutting edge 940, suitably. secured below theopposite end ofthe frame 88, as by welding or thelike, isa pluralityfof;spacedY tubularv elements 94, the outer, ones of which extend.beyond'the sides .of the frame. Pivotally mounted on the outwardlyextending end of each tubular element9`4lisfthe centralhnb, of a`bellcranlc 96.

The outer end "of `the rearward arm of each bell crank` 96 hasconnectedzthereto one end; of a spring 98the other end of which `isconnected with the frame 88. The lower scraper member is mounted betweenframe unembsrs 1.4. by a nivo@ Shaft` 10,0. extending through, the framemembers'iiiidi ihfiiihiiiar lments 94` SQ; that the fter i Surfaces@title Cleiitrfil hubs Qf the biicranks will enf. gage the Aadjacentinner surfaces of the frame members.` The forward' arm of each bellcrank engages an abut-` ment .1,02 formed on" the innersurface` of theadjacent framel member toprevent the bell crank yfrom pivoting 4in thedirection ofbias by spring 98 so that the latter will'V bias the edge 90into'engagement with 'the' peripheral` surface of the `lower roller 42.

Disposed abovethe lower en dof scraper member 86 is a par @Houma platesiiadiusabii iiieuiiieipii the frame members; by i any, Suitable means,Siihl es. Pia and Slot connections 1.06 A. Shaft 19,8.' is J'Qiiriialsiin the plates 4lllifand has fixedly secured theretopa plurality` d ofhorizontally spaced wheel or roller members '199.A The periphery @frechWheel` 10? is sirenes@ i0. detachably receive a( dssisiigformiiigelement .110 Whisii Operates'L during the rotation of thewheel'V to forma` predetermined design in the dough supported` b y the lov/,er end ,0fkthe scraper member 86. L

v As ,was briey `indicated above,` the mechanism of y the presentyinvention is adapted to deliver formed doughV sheets in proper,positionover the pie `plates supper-ted by the holders movingther'ebelow.V Thus, the sheeted and y, `stamped dough issuing frorntheforward end o f the scrap-` ver member 86 will fallyonto` thetops ofthepie plates.

therebelow. In order to insure that the formed dough will j properlyregisterAV withV the pie plates, theu mechanism -of the presentinvention is driven in timed! relation to the .j movement ofthe holdersor main` conveyor means of the piernaking machine.,y It will beunderstood that any suitable driving means may bel provided tllispurpose, one form ofwhich is `shown in the drawings ,as embody ing asprocketand chain system. In brief; the system includes a chain 112`connectingthe forward conveyor Y shaft 26with shaft 46 of thelowerlroller 42, a chain Y then operate to'engage the trailing edge oftliedo1`1gh.` sheet andmove it from the ,deadplate into` the cooper-` 1the lower surface of` plate` a coating or sheet 84 0f Teiioii. appliedthereof.

114 connectingl the feeding means shaft 6,0 with the shaft 46 oftheupper roller, and a chain 116 connecting the shaft 46 of the upperroller` with the shaft 108 of the design stamping wheels. The ends ofthe roller shafts i 46 may be extended outwardly 4to receive lsprocketwheels 11S from which the system may be suitably driveriby appropriatechains connected thereto and Yto `asouree of rotary motion from thepie-making machine. 1

From the above, `it is believed thatthe operation of the dough sheetingmechanism of the present invention will be apparent. In brief, a doughblock lfedionto the plate20.will be engagedby a pusher bar 32 andmovedfrom the` plate 20 `onto dead plate38. The fingers 62 ating rollers 42.The sheeted dough issuing from between the rollers,l is supported by.the` vlower i scraper `member 86 which,.togethenwith` `the upperscrapenmember insuresi that the Teflon surface of the rollers`willremain clean.

Atthe lowerend, of the scraper member 86," the dough is stamped atintervals withitdiguhy the` elementsilclu Thereafter, the stamped andsheathed dough is delivered or falls upon the tops of the pie plateswhere it may be either operated upon to form an upper crust or a lowercrust of the pie.

Since the various moving elements of the mechanism are driven in timedrelation to the travel of the pie plate holders of the pie-makingmachine, it will be seen that the dough block fed onto plate 20 will notbe moved onto the dead plate until a pusher bar 32 engages the same atthe proper time. Likewise, the movement of the lingers 62. are timedwith respect to the movement of the pusher bars so that they will notoperate to feed the dough block into the rollers until the proper timearrives. In a like manner, the stamping elements are timed so as to forma design in the dough issuing from the rollers which will be positionedin the central portion of the pie plates as the dough sheet fallsthereon. It will be noted that in Figure 1 there is shown a tray 120suitable to catch any dough scraps that may fall from the variouselements of the mechanism during their operation.

A significant feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof Teilen on substantially all of the dough contacting surfaces of themechanism. It has been found that this material is particularlyeffective in preventing the dough from sticking to its contactingsurfaces, so much so that it is virtually unnecessary to supply tlour tothe dough as it is moved through the mechanism. In any event, thisfeature greatly reduces the amount of flour necessary, therebysubstantially eliminating the mess and other disadvantages causedthereby.

The journal plate construction for mounting the various operatingelements between the frame members enables the elements to be quicklyand easily removed bodily for cleaning which is a major consideration inthe handling of any edible product.

In addition, the design of the mechanism is such that with only slightmodification and/ or removal of certain of the operating elements, acontinuous sheet of dough can be produced which is particularlydesirable in the piemaking machine of my aforesaid copendingapplication.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as the preferred embodiments of the sameand that various changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dough sheeting mechanism comprising a frame including horizontallyspaced vertical frame members, an elongated plate secured between saidframe members for receiving successive blocks of dough, an endlessconveyor secured between said frame members adjacent said plate andhaving a plurality of spaced transverse pusher bars arranged to engagethe successive dough blocks received on said elongated plate and movethe same toward one end thereof, a second plate tixedly mounted betweensaid frame members at said one end of said elongated plate for receivingthe dough blocks moved from said rst plate, upper and lower cooperatingdough rollers mounted between said frame members adjacent said secondplate, means for feeding the dough blocks from said second plate betweensaid rollers, a scraper member having an edge resiliently urged intoengagement with the periphery of said lower roller and extendingtherefrom for supporting the dough issuing from between said rollers,and a stamping roller mounted between said frame members above saidscraper member for forming a design in the dough supported by saidscraper member after the same has been rolled in sheet form by saidrollers.

2. A dough sheeting mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said doughblock feeding means comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced fingersmounted between said frame members above said second plate for rotationabout a transverse horizontal axis.

3. A dough sheeting mechanism as dened in claim 2 wherein said pusherbars are provided with horizontally spaced openings through which saidngers pass to engage the adjacent dough block and transfer the same fromsaid second plate between said rollers.

4. A dough sheeting mechanism as dened in claim 1 wherein said scrapermembers are pivotally mounted between said frame members and havesprings connected therewith for urging their edges into engagement withthe respective peripheries of said rollers.

5. In a pie-making machine, conveyor means for receiving dough, upperand lower cooperating dough rollers rotatable in opposite directions toroll dough therebetween into sheet form, means for moving the dough fromsaid conveyor means to a position between said rollers to be rolledthereby, said moving means including a supporting plate xedly mounted ina position to receive the dough as it issues from said conveyor meansand to support the same for movement into a position between saidrollers to be rolled thereby, a scraper member having an edge inengagement with the periphery of said lower roller and extendingtherefrom to support the rolled dough issuing from between said rollers,and a stamping roller `disposed above said scraper member for stamping adesign in the rolled dough on said scraper member at predeterminedintervals.

6. A dough sheeting mechanism comprising a frame including horizontallyspaced vertical frame members, an elongated plate secured between saidframe members for receiving successive blocks of dough, an endlessconveyor secured between said frame members adjacent said plate andhaving a plurality of spaced transverse pusher bars arranged to engagesuccessive dough blocks received on said elongated plate and to move thesame toward one end thereof, a second plate xedly mounted between saidframe members at said one end of said elongated plate for receiving thedough blocks moved from said rst plate, upper and lower cooperatingdough rollers mounted between said frame members adjacent said secondplate, and means for feeding the dough blocks from said second plateinto a position between said rollers to be rolled into sheet formthereby.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,068Chase Jan. 10, 1888 1,831,531 Harber Nov. 10, 1931 2,159,044 PatersonMay 23, 1939 2,160,783 McDonald May 30, 1939 2,200,347 Smith May 14,1940 2,405,661 MacManus Aug. 13, 1946 2,586,089 Rhodes Feb. 10, 19522,655,876 Stickelber Oct. 20, 1953 2,699,737 Sticelber Ia'n. 18, 19552,715,879 Sawyer Aug. 23, 1955 2,732,927 Hansen Ian. 31, 1956

